Sounds like an oxymoron, but you CAN make money as a free personal coach. Remember the old saying: “You have to give before you can receive?” Well that is what I am talking about. There is no standard coaching product. Clients’ needs, coaches’ capabilities and styles of coaching all vary so much that people cannot be expected to buy your services sight unseen. And since you are going to be giving your services away before you can really start charging for them, here is how to do it successfully.

Every Coaching Session Is an Audition

The best ways to develop your coaching business is to demonstrate your effectiveness as a coach. You can do this in speeches and blog post, but the most powerful way is as a free personal coach. Begin by getting to know your prospect. Ask them to describe themselves to you as it they were meeting you for the first time – the sort of information they might share when they are introduced to an interesting person at a party. This can be enlightening on two levels. The first is the information, itself, which is shared. The second is the priorities that are implied by what is or isn’t shared. Also ask your prospect to share one or two of their most important goals; the sort of goals that are too challenging to be achieved alone. Take the time to listen carefully, ask for clarification and dig deep. Why are these goals so important? How will you benefit if you achieve them? What will it cost you if you do not?

Earning the Right to Be a Free Personal Coach

It takes patience to ask for this information and then actively listen for what your prospective client has to say, but this is what makes the next part possible. And that part is you delivering coaching, that is not just valuable but priceless. In fact, if you can get your prospective client to say three things, you have hit a homerun. First, they need to say that they cannot achieve their most important goals without help. Second, that you have demonstrated that you are the person who can provide that help. And third, that achieving those goals would be priceless for them.

Be a Free Personal Coach but Not for Long

The trick at this point is to stop being a free personal coach, and fast. Because you have demonstrated your power as a great coach, there really is no need for more free sessions or even a guarantee. This is because if they ever get lazy and decide to give up on their dreams a guarantee gives the client the opportunity to blame you for a lack of progress. Also ask for a long term commitment. Get a decent initial payment to foster commitment and work hard to help your client make steady progress. And that is how you can make money as a free personal coach.

By the way… you’re invited to claim your FREE step-by-step “30-Days to Become a Coach” video toolkit. Just go HERE now to get your30-day coaching blueprint videos.

Dave Iuppa
JTS Advisors Strategy and Accountability Coach